CaliforniaCalifornia must designate zones for clean energy and critical minerals
California’s energy commission must designate qualifying clean energy and mineral zones, and state agencies must prioritize certain projects and assistance located there.
What it does
The state energy commission must designate qualifying clean energy and critical mineral zones, either after a county request or on its own. Counties can apply together for a zone that crosses their borders.
State agencies must give priority consideration to qualifying clean energy and industrial projects, infrastructure, and technical help in designated zones, as allowed by law.
The Governor’s business development office must consider designated zones in programs for advanced manufacturing, clean technology, energy storage, and other energy-intensive industries. It may coordinate state support for sites and infrastructure there.
When carrying out these duties, state agencies and the Governor’s Office must give priority to projects that provide prevailing wages, apprentices from state-approved programs, and a skilled, trained workforce.
Argument forDesignated zones could help connect clean energy and mineral projects with state support for infrastructure, workforce development, and investment.
Argument againstPriority consideration could steer state help toward zone projects, leaving less attention for similar projects elsewhere or those that do not meet workforce preferences.
More detail
The state energy commission must designate qualifying zones, either after a county request or on its own. A zone may cover only land within the requesting county or counties. Cities and regional public agencies may help prepare a request. A county board of supervisors may authorize a county request by resolution. Counties may apply together when a proposed zone crosses their borders and each county meets the mineral-resource condition. A proposed zone must meet the critical-mineral requirement and at least two additional criteria, such as renewable power, geothermal potential, nearby transmission, or regional planning. The commission must approve or deny a complete request within 180 days. It must review designated zones at least every five years and may update them as conditions change.
State agencies must give priority consideration to certain projects and related help in designated zones. This applies to state programs for economic development, advanced manufacturing, workforce development, and critical mineral supply chains. Priority applies only to projects, infrastructure investments, and technical assistance that support large-scale clean energy production or energy-intensive industrial development, and only to the extent consistent with law. The priority applies when covered state agencies administer their programs.
The Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development must consider designated zones in certain programs and may coordinate support there. The programs support advanced manufacturing, clean technology, energy storage supply chains, and other energy-intensive industries. The office may coordinate with the commission and other relevant state agencies on site readiness, infrastructure, and attracting investment. The office must consider zones when administering the covered programs. The law gives no separate schedule for optional coordination.
Covered state agencies and the Governor’s Office must give priority to projects with specified worker standards. The rule applies to projects considered by covered state agencies and the Governor’s Office in carrying out those duties. This priority applies when carrying out the zone-related program duties described in the law. This priority applies when the agencies and office carry out the zone-related duties.
Where do you stand?
Choose your position
Tell your reps
Take a position to see your representatives and ways to contact them.
Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Assembly
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Sep 27Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 583, Statutes of 2026.Latest
- Sep 27Approved by the Governor Gavin Newsom.Became Law
- Sep 15Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 3 p.m.To Governor
- Aug 31Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 77. Noes 0. Page 6992.).Major
- Vote recorded AB 2163 Jeff Gonzalez Concurrence in Senate Amendments. Result: pass.Lower
- Aug 24In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending.
- Vote recorded 3rd Reading AB2163 Jeff Gonzalez By Niello. Result: pass.Upper
- Aug 24Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 39. Noes 0.).Passed Senate
- Aug 18Read second time. Ordered to third reading.Minor
- Aug 17Read third time and amended. Ordered to second reading.Major
- Aug 13Read second time. Ordered to third reading.Minor
- Vote recorded Do pass. Result: pass.Upper
- Aug 13From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (August 13).Minor
- Aug 3In committee: Referred to APPR. suspense file.Minor
- Vote recorded Placed on suspense file. Result: pass.Upper
- Jun 29From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 11. Noes 0.) (June 29). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.Minor
- Vote recorded Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]. Result: pass.Upper
- Jun 24From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on B. P. & E.D. (Ayes 17. Noes 0.) (June 24). Re-referred to Com. on B. P. & E.D.Minor
- Vote recorded Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Business, Professions and Economic Development]. Result: pass.Upper
- Jun 10Referred to Coms. on E., U & C. and B. P. & E.D.Minor
- May 28In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.Minor
- May 27Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 76. Noes 0. Page 5453.)Passed Assembly
- Vote recorded AB 2163 Jeff Gonzalez Assembly Third Reading. Result: pass.Lower
- May 18Read second time. Ordered to third reading.Minor
- May 14From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 15. Noes 0.) (May 14).Minor
- Vote recorded Do pass. Result: pass.Lower
- May 6In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to APPR. suspense file.Minor
- Apr 28Re-referred to Com. on APPR.Minor
- Apr 27Read second time and amended.Major
- Apr 23From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 18. Noes 0.) (April 22).Major
- Apr 22
- Vote recorded Do pass as amended, and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations] with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 21From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on U. & E. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 8. Noes 0.) (April 21). Re-referred to Com. on U. & E.Minor
- Vote recorded Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Utilities and Energy] with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 16(Pending re-refer to Com. on U. & E.)Minor
- Apr 16Assembly Rule 56 suspended. (Page 4663.)
- Apr 9Re-referred to Coms. on E.D., G., & H.I. and U. & E. pursuant to Assembly Rule 96.Minor
- Mar 23Re-referred to Com. on U. & E.Minor
- Mar 19From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on U. & E. Read second time and amended.Major
- Mar 2Referred to Com. on U. & E.Minor
- Feb 19From printer. May be heard in committee March 21.
- Feb 18Read first time. To print.Introduced
Environment & EnergyEconomy & JobsGovernment & Ethics